The NBA Summer League sets the stage for players from every level of basketball to grab an opportunity to display their talent and potential. However, newly-drafted rookies usually get most of the spotlight as they suit up on their new teams for the first time. The 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has begun, and many players stood out from the rest with several rookie standout performances grasping the attention of the weekend.
Rookie Standouts From the First Weekend of Summer League
Cooper Flagg
The Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick for him to develop into their franchise building block moving forward. He struggled with his efficiency throughout his Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, his defensive intensity was on display. On Saturday, he responded like a professional in his next outing. He boosted his offensive efficiency and scoring 31 points on high-volume in a loss to the Spurs. This scoring punch will need to be provided by Flagg on a consistent basis with Kyrie Irving sidelined for much of next season.
With the offseason philosophy, Dallas doesn’t seem to be messing around in a stacked Western Conference. General manager Nico Harrison truly can’t afford to miss out on the playoffs for a second-straight season after losing in the 2024 NBA Finals and trading away their franchise star in Luka Doncic last season. If Flagg can build on Saturday’s performance and his all-around talent, it gives the organization some certainty he will be an effortless fit in their frontcourt next to Anthony Davis. He also will become an integral piece in their attempt to compete next season and in the foreseeable future.
Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson was selected by the Wizards with the No. 6 pick to mainly produce a scoring spark the team has been missing since the Bradley Beal trade. Johnson should serve as a key part of the new rebuild in Washington alongside 2024 NBA Draft No. 2 overall pick, Alex Sarr. His standout performance in the Summer League so far is the first shining moment in Johnson’s very young career. In his first two games, he tallied 18 points and 21 points on good high-volume efficiency. In addition, Johnson looks to be meshing well with the other young core in DC.
As a prospect, Johnson has go-to, three-level scoring potential with the ability to get hot and remain hot from all parts of the court. His long range scoring ability is excellent and has developed into one his greatest strengths as shown in his time at Texas. The Wizards traded guard Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans days before the draft. However, the organization understood they had the opportunity to select Johnson to fill Poole’s void as a shot-taker but most importantly, a consistent shot-maker in a guard group with players like All-Rookie second team member, Bub Carrington.
Liam McNeeley
No other rookie standout from Summer League performed as well after the first weekend as new Charlotte Hornets wing Liam McNeeley. The No. 29 pick in the draft played a great all-around game in his debut, recording 22 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. He then followed it up with another double-digit game. McNeeley’s start to his NBA career couldn’t have gone much better as he shot well from distance. That is an aspect of his game that remained inconsistent throughout his freshman season at UConn.
The Hornets have waited a little longer than anticipated to take a major step. However, their offseason moves emphasize the importance of making that jump for the entire organization. Although McNeeley was drafted later in the first round, Charlotte could ask him to eventually step into a key role off the bench to complement the team’s vast guard rotation. Much-needed spacing will already be provided by No. 4 overall selection Kon Knueppel, but McNeeley’s confident shooting stroke would only add to it.
Joan Beringer
Joan Beringer‘s defensive versatility and offensive tenacity spread all over the court in the Timberwolves’ first Summer League game. He blocked shots, crashed the boards, and finished strong inside. The No. 17 overall pick put together a nice performance with 11 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks, truly putting the league on notice about his immediate positional traits.
Selected to be Rudy Gobert‘s long-term successor, it already seems Beringer’s confidence is sky-high due to the development process he’s about to experience. Learning from the four-time DPOY and a fellow Frenchman, he should be prepared to earn impact minutes sooner rather than later as he hopes to develop into a vital contributor to Minnesota’s identity by the end of his rookie contract.
Nique Clifford
Even though his age of 23 could be a concern in the future, Nique Clifford has the talent to have a long, steady career. His maturity and basketball-IQ have already driven him toward success through his first two games in Summer League. He scored 17 points in his debut and followed it up with a 19 point, 12 rebound double-double. For the Sacramento Kings, Clifford’s all-around skill set gives them consistent talent on the wing.
The Kings received great value with Clifford falling deep into the first round at No. 24 while also grabbing immense value with Maxime Raynaud in the second round. After firing Mike Brown and trading their star point guard De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento needs life injected into their roster. With Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings remain in purgatory. However, with this draft class, the organization still has steps to take but should be moving in a more logical direction.
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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